St Helen's Bishopsgate
Encyclopedia
St Helen's Bishopsgate is a large conservative evangelical
Anglican
church, in Lime Street ward
, in the City of London
, close to the Lloyd's building
and the 'Gherkin
'.
The priory had extensive monastic buildings; its hall was later used by the Leathersellers Company until its demolition in 1799. A crypt extended north from the church, under the hall.
St Helen's was the parish
church of William Shakespeare
when he lived in the area in the 1590s.
In the seventeenth century two classical doorcases were added to the otherwise Gothic church. The building was heavily restored
by John Loughborough Pearson
in 1891-3 and re-opened on St. John the Baptist's Day, 1893, by the Bishop of London
, Frederick Temple
.
St Helen's was one of only a few City churches to survive both the Great Fire of London
of 1666 and The Blitz
during World War II
. In 1992 and 1993, however, St Helen's was badly damaged
by two IRA
bombs that were set off nearby. The roof of the building was lifted and one of the city's largest medieval stained glass
windows was shattered. The church has since been fully restored although many of the older monuments within it were entirely destroyed. Architect Quinlan Terry
, an enthusiast of Georgian architecture
, designed the restoration along Reformation
lines.
Due to parish consolidation over the years, the parish is now named "St Helen Bishopsgate with St Andrew Undershaft and St Ethelburga Bishopsgate and St Martin Outwich and St Mary Axe". The Merchant Taylors' Company
are the patrons of the benefice.
The church was designated a Grade I listed building on 4 January 1950.
2. In the north-east corner of the "Gresham Memorial Chapel" at the east end of the nuns' Choir, altar tomb of Sir Thomas Gresham
, 1579. Founder of the Royal Exchange
and the Gresham Lectures.
3. Side by side with the preceding, Sir Julius Caesar Adelmare
, 1636. Judge of the Court of Admiralty. Altar tomb with Latin epitaph in the form of a deed to which is affixed the broad seal of the deceased.
4. In the south-east corner of the Gresham Memorial Chapel, Sir Andrew Judd 1558. Founder of Tonbridge School
.
5. Under the chancel arch, north of the High Altar, Sir William Pickering, 1574. Ambassador in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Altar tomb with recumbent figure surmounted by a lofty canopy.
6. Under the chancel arch, south of the High Altar, Sir John Crosby
1475 founder of Crosby Hall, and Agnes his wife. Altar tomb with recumbent figures.
7. In the Chapel of the Holy Ghost, Sir John Oteswich and his wife. Formerly in the church of St Martin Outwich
.
8. Against the south wall of the church, sightly to the west of the south entrance, Sir John Spencer and his wife, 1609. Altar tomb under a canopy with recumbent figures, and a third kneeling figure.
The organ is of such historic significance that it has been awarded a Grade II* listing by the British Institute of Organ Studies
.
There are also numerous midweek small groups which meet at the church. These include the 'Read, Mark, Learn (RML)' groups which either study the Gospel of Mark
, the Epistle to the Romans
or a Bible
overview over the course of a year. There is also the Central Focus group which studies a whole variety of topics and books from the Bible
.The church also runs the Christianity Explored
course regularly.
. The current rector is William Taylor.
Conservative Evangelicalism
Conservative Evangelicalism is a term used in Britain to describe a theological movement found within Evangelical Protestant Christianity, and is sometimes simply synonymous with Evangelical within the United Kingdom...
Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church, in Lime Street ward
Lime Street (ward)
Lime Street is one of the 25 ancient wards in the City of London.It is divided into four precincts; and it is worthy a remark that, though the ward includes parts of several parishes, there is not even a whole street in it. John Noorthhouck...
, in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, close to the Lloyd's building
Lloyd's building
The Lloyd's building is the home of the insurance institution Lloyd's of London, and is located at 1, Lime Street, in the City of London, England.-Design:...
and the 'Gherkin
30 St Mary Axe
30 St Mary Axe, the Swiss Re Building , is a skyscraper in London's main financial district, the City of London, completed in December 2003 and opened at the end of May 2004...
'.
History
The church of St Helen existed by the twelfth century, and a priory of Benedictine nuns was founded there in 1210. It is unusual in that it was designed with two parallel naves, giving it a wide interior. Until the dissolution of the priory in 1538, the church was divided in two by a partition running from east to west, the northern half serving the nuns and the southern the parishioners.The priory had extensive monastic buildings; its hall was later used by the Leathersellers Company until its demolition in 1799. A crypt extended north from the church, under the hall.
St Helen's was the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
church of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
when he lived in the area in the 1590s.
In the seventeenth century two classical doorcases were added to the otherwise Gothic church. The building was heavily restored
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
by John Loughborough Pearson
John Loughborough Pearson
John Loughborough Pearson was a Gothic Revival architect renowned for his work on churches and cathedrals. Pearson revived and practised largely the art of vaulting, and acquired in it a proficiency unrivalled in his generation.-Early life and education:Pearson was born in Brussels, Belgium on 5...
in 1891-3 and re-opened on St. John the Baptist's Day, 1893, by the Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
, Frederick Temple
Frederick Temple
Frederick Temple was an English academic, teacher, churchman and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1896 until his death.-Early life:...
.
St Helen's was one of only a few City churches to survive both the Great Fire of London
Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of the English city of London, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666. The fire gutted the medieval City of London inside the old Roman City Wall...
of 1666 and The Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1992 and 1993, however, St Helen's was badly damaged
1993 Bishopsgate bombing
The Bishopsgate bombing occurred on 24 April 1993, when the Provisional Irish Republican Army detonated a truck bomb in London's financial district in Bishopsgate, City of London, England. One person was killed in the explosion and 44 injured, and damage initially estimated at £1 billion was caused...
by two IRA
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
bombs that were set off nearby. The roof of the building was lifted and one of the city's largest medieval stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows was shattered. The church has since been fully restored although many of the older monuments within it were entirely destroyed. Architect Quinlan Terry
Quinlan Terry
Quinlan Terry is a British architect. He was educated at Bryanston School and the Architectural Association. He was a pupil of architect Raymond Erith, with whom he formed the partnership Erith & Terry....
, an enthusiast of Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
, designed the restoration along Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
lines.
Due to parish consolidation over the years, the parish is now named "St Helen Bishopsgate with St Andrew Undershaft and St Ethelburga Bishopsgate and St Martin Outwich and St Mary Axe". The Merchant Taylors' Company
Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors
The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors is one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London.The Company, originally known as the Guild and Fraternity of St...
are the patrons of the benefice.
The church was designated a Grade I listed building on 4 January 1950.
Memorials
1. North wall of the Nuns' Choir, near the west end, Alderman Thon Robinson, 1599. An Elizabethan group of kneeling figures; the deceased and his wife with nine sons and seven daughters.2. In the north-east corner of the "Gresham Memorial Chapel" at the east end of the nuns' Choir, altar tomb of Sir Thomas Gresham
Thomas Gresham
Sir Thomas Gresham was an English merchant and financier who worked for King Edward VI of England and for Edward's half-sisters, Queens Mary I and Elizabeth I.-Family and childhood:...
, 1579. Founder of the Royal Exchange
Royal Exchange
Royal Exchange may refer to:*Royal Exchange, Belfast a major mixed-use regeneration scheme in the North East Quarter of Belfast City Centre*Royal Exchange, Manchester, a 19th century classical building, home of the Royal Exchange Theatre...
and the Gresham Lectures.
3. Side by side with the preceding, Sir Julius Caesar Adelmare
Julius Caesar (judge)
Sir Julius Caesar was an English judge and politician. He was born near Tottenham in Middlesex. His father was Giulio Cesare Adelmare, an Italian physician to Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, descended by the female line from the dukes of Cesarini.Caesar was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford,...
, 1636. Judge of the Court of Admiralty. Altar tomb with Latin epitaph in the form of a deed to which is affixed the broad seal of the deceased.
4. In the south-east corner of the Gresham Memorial Chapel, Sir Andrew Judd 1558. Founder of Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
.
5. Under the chancel arch, north of the High Altar, Sir William Pickering, 1574. Ambassador in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Altar tomb with recumbent figure surmounted by a lofty canopy.
6. Under the chancel arch, south of the High Altar, Sir John Crosby
John Crosby
John Crosby may refer to:* John Crosby , partner in Washburn-Crosby Co* John Crosby , founding director of the Santa Fe Opera, 1957–2000* John Crawford Crosby , American politician...
1475 founder of Crosby Hall, and Agnes his wife. Altar tomb with recumbent figures.
7. In the Chapel of the Holy Ghost, Sir John Oteswich and his wife. Formerly in the church of St Martin Outwich
St Martin Outwich
St Martin Outwich was a medieval parish church in the City of London, on the corner of Threadneedle Street and Bishopsgate.-History:A church of St Martin was built in the fourteenth century at the expense of members of the Oteswich family, from whom the church derives its name...
.
8. Against the south wall of the church, sightly to the west of the south entrance, Sir John Spencer and his wife, 1609. Altar tomb under a canopy with recumbent figures, and a third kneeling figure.
Organ
The organ dates from 1744 when an annuity organ by Thomas Griffin was installed. It has undergone several restorations since by builders such as George Pike England in 1810, J.C. Bishop and Son in 1910 and 1923, Hill, Norman and Beard in 1929 and 1957, and Martin Goetze & Dominic Gwynn in 1996. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.The organ is of such historic significance that it has been awarded a Grade II* listing by the British Institute of Organ Studies
British Institute of Organ Studies
-Aims:The aims of BIOS are* To promote objective, scholarly research into the history of the organ and its music in all its aspects, and, in particular, into the organ and its music in Britain....
.
Organists
- Thomas Griffin 1744-1771
- George Griffin 1771-1809
- William Henry Cutler 1809-1819
- George Warne 1819-1820
- Joseph Nightingale 1820-1842/7?
- William Richard Bexfield 1848-1853
- Mr. Deane 1854
- Miss A Barton 1867
Activities
St Helen's currently holds three services each Sunday, one in the morning at 10:30am, one in the afternoon at 4pm and one in the evening at 6pm. The Sunday afternoon and evening services are followed by an informal meal and social time.There are also numerous midweek small groups which meet at the church. These include the 'Read, Mark, Learn (RML)' groups which either study the Gospel of Mark
Gospel of Mark
The Gospel According to Mark , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Mark or simply Mark, is the second book of the New Testament. This canonical account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the three synoptic gospels. It was thought to be an epitome, which accounts for its place as the second...
, the Epistle to the Romans
Epistle to the Romans
The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, often shortened to Romans, is the sixth book in the New Testament. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by the Apostle Paul to explain that Salvation is offered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
or a Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
overview over the course of a year. There is also the Central Focus group which studies a whole variety of topics and books from the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
.The church also runs the Christianity Explored
Christianity Explored
Christianity Explored is an informal Christian evangelistic teaching course developed by Rico Tice and Barry Cooper at All Souls Church, Langham Place, a leading evangelical Church of England church, and published by The Good Book Company....
course regularly.
Rectors
Former rectors include Thomas Horton and R. C. LucasR. C. Lucas
Richard Charles "Dick" Lucas is an Anglican evangelical cleric, best known for his long ministry at St Helen's Bishopsgate in London, England. He is also known as a founder of the Proclamation Trust and the Cornhill Training Course. He is the author of a number of evangelical books and commentaries...
. The current rector is William Taylor.